A 44-Year-Old Woman Has Developed Calf Pain During a Transatlantic

A 44-year-old woman has developed calf pain during a transatlantic flight. She is extremely short of breath upon arrival at her destination. She was subsequently diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism (PE) that resolved with anticoagulant therapy. Which of these statements best characterizes the underlying problem of her PE?

A) Ventilation was occurring, but perfusion was inadequate causing shortness of breath.
B) The combination of normal perfusion but compromised ventilation caused hypoxia.
C) She developed a transient anatomic shunt resulting in impaired oxygenation.
D) Impaired gas diffusion across alveolar membranes resulted in dyspnea and hypoxia.